School Closing Bill Moves to House, Senate Floors

A key legislator said Tuesday that she remains undecided on whether to allow Chicago Public Schools four more months to produce a list of school closings, even as legislation on the extension moved to the House and Senate floors.

State Rep. Cynthia Soto, D-Chicago, who co-sponsored 2010 legislation that requires CPS to announce school closings by Dec. 1, said she has not agreed to an extension and wants any legislation to ensure that class sizes are smaller and that displaced students will move to better-performing schools.

CPS chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett said she understands Soto's concerns, and "I think that we can reach a happy resolution."

Legislation to give CPS until March 31 to announce its plans for school closings was approved unanimously Tuesday by the House Executive Committee and the Senate Education Committee, despite vocal opposition from community activists and the Chicago Teachers Union.